Ellington Comes Up Just Short In Boys Basketball Finals

UNCASVILLE, CT — The phrase "basketball is a game of streaks" may be a cliche, but it proved to be the case during the Division IV boys basketball championship game Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Third-seeded Ellington went on a 10-0 run in the final two minutes of the first quarter to assume a 17-8 lead over No. 1 Cromwell. The Panthers then scored the first eight points of the second quarter, keeping the Knights off the score sheet until there was 1:08 remaining before intermission. The teams headed into the break with Ellington on top, 21-16.

The Knights briefly lost the lead near the midpoint of the third quarter, but re-established a 4-point advantage with just under four minutes left in the period. That's when the Payne started for Ellington, as Cromwell junior forward Victor Payne suddenly came alive, accounting for 17 points over the game's final 11 and a half minutes to lift the Panthers to a 53-46 victory.

After being held to just four points in the opening half, Payne wound up tied for game-high honors with 23. Teammate Jacob Salafia contributed 11 points.

Similarly, senior co-captain Cody Murphy recovered from a slow start (five first-half points) to wind up with 23. Bradley Sawka also reached double figures with 10 points. Darren Zahner tallied nine points in the first half, but was held scoreless after intermission.

Cromwell captured its 10th state championship in program history, and first since winning the Division V crown in 2018. Ellington had been seeking to end a half-century drought, last winning a state title in 1972.

Photos: Lenz Photography